Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-28
THE NATIONS CAPITOL.
THE STRUCTURE WILL BE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL IN THE WORLD.

The First Corner Stone OF = Public
Structure In Washington Laid Nearly
Century Ago-Grandeur of the Cap
itol Building.
The marble terrace and grand staircase
which are to complete the imposing western
approach to the capitol of the United States,
with the return of the balmy days of spring
presents once more q scene Of busy energy
among the scores Of workmen, who with
crane and trowel are placing the huge blocks
of polished marble and granite in their as.
signed places on the master builders plan.
A proc ession of carts simultaneously carry
away the excavated earth as the foundation
OF the extension of the gigantic work goes on
When the French engineer, under inStruc-
tons from President Washington in the sum-
mer of 1870, made q reconnaissance Of the
gracefully undulating lands in the forks OF
the Potomac and the Anacostia as the site Of
the proposed seat of government, he pointed
out On his rude field sketch a conspicuous EN-
inence, then called Jenkins hill, as the mos;
proper site for 1.-The federal house where con.
gress should meet" Three years later Wash
Al5tOA Asllu luC IOl StOhC VI thC W iSltASal
edifice, which is now little more than the
foundation for the beautifully proportional
iron dome towering over the balustraded
marble walls and Corinthian porticoes which
to-day inclose the four acres Of frescoed and
gilded ante-rooms, corridors, committee
rooms, and great halls occupied by the bust
ness of legislation.
The pure white marble walls and sur.
mounting balustrade, with pedestals for stat
ues in the future, which have supplanted the
primitived turfed slopes of the terraces on the
north and south sides of the edifice, have been
finished The western portion from the
angles to the grand staircase is nearly So
which leaves nothing to consummate this I'M
posing piece of architectural beauty and
solidity but the grand staircase itself. This
will be tar toward completion before the close
of the present working season.
NEARLY A CENTURY.
Though but five years less than century
have elapsed since the corner stone of the
presidents house, the first of the public build
ings in the federal city, was laid, Washington,
the capital of the United States, can boast OF
the loftiest structure extant reared by man
in the marble obelisk to the memory of "The
Father of His Country" 1t has the largest
and the finest legislative and government
buildings on the globe. 1t has more equestrian
statues and as rule Of equal merit than all
the other capitals of the world combined, and
its open air and in door statues number up
ward of hundred. Its national museum are
the greatest and finest in the economical, eth
biological, and medical affairs of mankind OF
any in existence Its new library building will
eclipse in beauty all structures Of the kind
now in existence. Its new observatory will
snpass all others. The extension of its water
supply will exceed the great aqueducts OF
Ro9ne. The latest triumph in the world of won
ders of the American capital will be this grand
staircase. Nothing of equal magnitude can
be found in the great capitals which date
back to the infancy Of nations The grand
terrace at Dresden, the famous gardens OF
Italy, tina staircase Of Sans Souci at Pottsdam
the vatican at Rome, or the terrace and stair
case at Central park, New York, do not even
approach it in dimensions, architectural
symmetry, and elaboration of detail and
finish.
Some idea of the grandeur of this work
may be formed by a reference to its dimen-
slons. The north terrace, OF Maryland and
south terrace, of Massachusetts,, white
marbles, and each 304 feet in length and 20
feet high, each terminating on the east in q
massive marble block and paved approach to
the port cocheres respectively of the senate
and house porticoes of the eastern facade of
the capitol. The terrace walls are capped with
a beautiful marble balustrade and rail, with
bookings serving at intervals for superb
bronze lamp posts and pedestals for statues,
of which there would be ten on each side.
The walls of the western terrace and grand
staircase are 9lS feet in length or aggregating
richly paved way over 800 feet long ex-
tending at the base Of the lofty Corinthian
porticoes of the northern, western, and south
ern fronts of the vast structure. Highly pol
ished Aberdeen granite parterres break the
terrace platform into two levels
THE GRAND STAIRCASE.
The grand staircase projects liz feet and
consists of double flights of steps Al and 4S
feet wide, with landings. The distance be-
tween the two flights of steps is 129 feet At
the foot of the staircase, facing on the semi
circular walk, fronts Story's heroic bronze
statue of Chief Justice John Marshall. In
the rear will be a beautiful fountain, and in
face of the connecting wall forming the
middle landing will be inches for ivy. From
this platform will be live arches forming an
arcaded way into the sub basement of the
building. At each landing will be imposing
cheek blocks, which Will support ornate
bronze lamps and statues. The steps will end
on broad platform of 1o9 feet deep and will
be connected by balustrade over the arcaded
front beneath and bookings for statues and
lamps.
The western central portico, which pro-
jects here, will be extended in symmetrical
proportions to the approach. The entire ex-
terror of the original capitol, which is now
the center and of gray festoons painted
white, viii be faced with marble to CORES
pond with the senate and house extensions.
In order to utilize the space within the ter
race walls nnety-.wo vaults have been con-
structed and twenty-eight large apartments
suitable for occupancy of committees viii
front on the open spaces toward the building.
The terrace walls are constructed OF alternate
blocks of marble, five by eight feet and nine-
teen inches high and one to three feet thick,
fine rubbed cut work, and all resting on a
base o. Pennsylvania granite similarly
treated The completion Of the work will
cost upward Of Sl,0C0,00O.
Looking from the upward platform, which
begins at the base Of the western central por-
tico Of the capitol, tie eye rests in receding
vision upon the polished white marble de-
scents of the staircase itself. the paved plat
form at the foot with the Marshall statue,
the sweeping lawn inclosed by granite copings,
which form the broad Saved walks which
make their exits on the right az the beautiful
statue of peace. which stands at the head Of
Pennsylvania avenue, and On the left at the
site Of the new statue Of President Garfield,
which will be unveiled on the 18th u rext
month. ard which looks down Maryland
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